Palletizing Outbound Shipments

Build pallets faster and increase overall truck loading efficiency

Distribution facilities are always seeking more efficient ways to load and unload trucks as the faster they can get trucks in and out of a facility, the higher their throughput. In many cases, packages are manually loaded into trucks and stacked, one item at a time. To meet efficiency requirements, facilities are trending to building pallets prior to outbound shipment as it saves time and money as well as protects product during transport.

Part of the palletization process involves scanning each item before it is placed on the pallet. Traditionally, laser-based hand scanners are used for this purpose. However, these scanners have difficulty reading damaged or smudged codes, which means operators must take the time to print out a new label for the package which adds time and money to the process. In addition, since a hand scanner requires a free hand, the overall process of picking up an item, scanning it, then putting it on the pallet can be inefficient.

Cognex’s image-based overhead presentation scanning solutions, featuring DataMan 370 and DataMan 470 barcode readers, offer a hands-free solution to reading codes quickly, efficiently, and accurately. The overhead scanning configuration means operators can read and build pallets faster than if using handheld or ring scanners. In addition, this approach ensures distribution or fulfillment facilities ship the correct items, improves inventory accuracy, eliminates costly returns, and improves overall package traceability. Cognex barcode readers increase a distribution facility’s efficiency and lower costs by using advanced algorithms to decode even the most damaged, distorted, blurred, or low-contrast label-based barcodes, delivering industry-leading 99.9% read rates.